Toy mortar



July 19, 1966 ER ET AL 3,261,342

TOY MORTAR Filed May 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46 l I David 5. Harper nGeorge W Lescher 22 560/96 I4. Dunbar 48 5| 48 INVENTOR5 6 20 @MM/ZMWTHEIR PATENT AGENT D. R. HARPER ET L July 19, 1966 TOY MORTAR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1964 8 I r a mb m.s n H WW R a Mmm www D669 INVENTORS I mmMaw m7 THEIR PATE NT AGENT United States Patent3,261,342 TOY MORTAR David R. Harper, George W. Lescher, and George W.Dunbar, Nashville, Tenn., assignors to Kusan, Inc., Nashville, Tenn., acorporation of Kentucky Filed May 20, 1964, Ser. No. 368,909 14 Claims.(Cl. 124-29) This invention relates generally to toy firearms of thecannon or mortar type and more particularly to such a toy which canmechanically fire a harmless projectile.

Toy firearms of this type are known in the art but are usuallycharacterized by one or more undesirable features. Among these are: adanger of harm to children from the projecting means employed or fromthe force and nature of the projectile; a difficulty of manipulation soas to result in an early lack of interest therein by a child; a lack ofsturdiness so as to result in early breakage of the firearm or itsmissile-ejecting mechanism; an excessive cost where a realisticsimulation of a firearm is embodied; and a complexity of designresulting in impractical manufacturing, assembling and packaging costs.

Accordingly the main object of the present invention is to provide animproved toy firearm of the mortar type which will obviate the above andother undesirable features characterizing known structures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtoy mortar which will mechanically fire a light resilient projectilesuch as a ball in a vertically arched trajectory with unusually highefficiency and per formance.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved toy mortar wherein the angle of the initial trajectory may bereadily varied to thereby educationally instruct children in the effectsresulting therefrom as to range and angle of the final trajectory duringtheir play.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide animproved toy firearm of the type described which comprises a projectilereceiving barrel and spring actuated projectile ejection or propulsionmeans formed of complementary rigidly joined barrel halves eachincluding complementary and cooperating portions forming a projectilesupport and guides and reactive surfaces for the propulsion means, thespring actuated plunger being movable in said complementary guides toforcibly engage and eject the projectile from the barrel which issupported by its lower end and provided with an intermediatebarrel-angle-adjusting support.

A still further important object of the present invention is to providean improved toy firearm which is simple of construction, rugged and oflong life in use, and susceptible of ready and economic manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the drawings we have shown two embodiments of the invention, in theseshowings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a muzzle end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view to a reduced scale of the inner side ofone of the complementary halves of the firearm barrel;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view thereof to an enlarged scaletaken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the plunger and its actuating spring; 1

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view thereof;

Patented July 19, 1&66

ice

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner side of one ofthe complementary halves of a modified form of the toy firearm;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 9-9 ofFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of the plunger; and

FIGURE 11 is an end elevational view thereof.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 7 of the drawings, numeral 15 designates thetoy firearm as a whole which comprises a pair of identical butsymmetrically opposite complementary halves 17 and 18 of a suitableplastic such as polystyrene, rigidly joined as by gluing or heat fusionalong the central longitudinal vertical plane of the firearm 15 whichsimulates a mortar, an intermediate support 20, and a restraining device22 adjustably connecting the base of the mortar 15 and the support 20.

Since the two longitudinal and complementary halves 17 and 13 areidentical, only one need be described in detail. Each half includes abarrel portion 24 having an intermediate, inner semi-circularstrengthening rib 25 and being substantially closed at its inner end bya bulkhead 26 (FIGURE 5), the barrel otherwise opening into and beingangularly disposed to the base 27 of the mortar 15, the outer basecontour being arcuate as shown at 28 (FIGURES 1-4).

The bulkhead 26 is provided with a strengthening rib 30, a semi-circularslot 32 and a rectangular slot 33 which defines a latch or triggerholding member 34 as will be further described. Adjacent the bulkhead,the barrel is formed with a longitudinally extendinggun-sight-simulating shoulder 35, the inner surface 36 of whichfunctions as a guide for the spring actuated plunger. The barrel 24 isalso provided in its side with a longitudinally extending slot 37 whichterminates at its forward end in an enlarged rectangular portion 38 inwhich a cushioning means 40 such as rubber is permanently mounted.

The mortar half 17 is provide with a lug 42 having a bayonet-typeaperture 43 and both of the halves are provided with journal members 44,45 for the reception of hub portions 46, 47 formed at the upper ends ofthe webconnected legs 48 of the intermediate support 20. The web 50 isalso provided with a bayonet-type aperture 51 and it will be apparentthat different lengths of the restraining device 22, which may be abeaded chain as shown, may be secured in the bayonet apertures 43, 51 soas to adjust the angularity of the intermediate support 20 and hence thevertical angularity of the barrel 24 of the toy firearm 15 and hence thetrajectory of the missile to be fired or ejected therefrom.

As disclosed in FIGURES 6 and 7, a rodlike plunger 54 having a missileengaging and ejecting head 55 and two pairs of axially spaced, laterallyprojecting shoulders 56, 57 whose ends 58 engage the inner sides of theslots 37 as guides, is provided with a pair of enlarged laterallyextending cocking wings 59 with finger recesses 60 formed in theirforward edges which cooperate with laterally projecting, fixed fingerlugs 61 to facilitate the cocking movement. A combined latch and triggermember 62 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the cocking wings 59 andterminates in an inclined trigger surface 63 which, in the cockingoperation, deflects it under the latch holding member 34 which is thenlatchably engaged by its forward vertical face 64.

As indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, the complementaryhalves 17 and 18 are assembled in perfect, cooperating alignment bymeans of spaced holes and mating pins 65. Prior to such assembly, acompression spring 67 is slipped over the rodlike plunger 54 which isextended through and guided at its aft end in its reciprocal movement inthe mortar 15 by the-aperture formed by the two cooperatingsemi-circular slots 32 in the bulkheads of the two halves 17, 18.Similarly, the inner surfaces 36 of the shoulders 35 of the two mortarhalves guide and bear against the side faces of the combined triggerlatch 63, 64, the two rectangular notches 33 of the halves defining theopening through which the trigger latch passes.

It will now be readily apparent that assembly of the toy firearm ormortar comprising the present invention is readily and simply effectedby placing the spring 67 over the plunger 54, inserting a cocking wing59 through its corresponding slot in a barrel half 17 or 18, and layingthe aft or inner end of the plunger in the semi-circular slot 32 whereit will be lightly held by the engagement of the inner end of the springagainst the outer face of the bulkhead 26 surrounding the slot. Theother barrel half is now placed over the other cocking wing 59 by itsguide slot 37 and the mating holes and pins 65 interfitted so as toalign and permanently connect the halves 17 18 into an integral unit.

In operation, to prepare the mortar for firing or ejection of a missile,the cocking wings 59 and finger lugs 61 are squeezed by the fingers toretract the plunger 54 against the action of the spring 67 until thetrigger 63 is deflected downwardly by the latch holding member 34 andpasses it to allow the trigger 63 to spring upwardly with its latch face64 engaging the member 34. This is the cocked or ready to fire position.

At this time, or prior to the cocking step, a missile may be droppedinto the barrel. This should preferably be of only slightly lessdiameter than the mortar barrel so that it is supported in firingposition therein by the circular rib 25 where it will be struck by theplunger head 55 when the mortar is fired. Desirably, the missilecomprises a harmless, resilient, spherical hollow ball such as a pingpong ball.

The angle of inclination of the intermediate support 20 is adjusted toobtain the desired missile trajectory and the mortar is then aimed atthe desired target. To fire the mortar (effect the ejection of themissile), the trigger 63 is depressed until it clears the holding member34 upon which the spring 67 rapidly forces the guided plunger forwardlyso that the head 55 forcibly strikes the missile to eject it from thebarrel.

The plunger is arrested at the end of its firing movement forwardly oroutwardly by the contact of the forward edges of the cocking wings 59with the cushion members 40 in the forward ends 38 of the guide slots37, which effectively absorb the deceleration energy so as to avoidshock damage to the toy over a long period of use.

A modified form of the cushioning members is disclosed in FIGURES 8 to11 wherein parts similar to those of the just described embodiment bearsimilar numerals. In the modified form, the cushion members 40 aredispensed with and the plunger 54 is provided with a circular bumper 70spaced axially rearwardly of and larger than the plunger head 55.

As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, each of the halves 17, 18 of the toyfirearm 15 is provided at a point rearwardly spaced from the missilesupporting ribs 25, with transversely disposed quadrant sections orleaves 73, 72 which are spaced from each other as at 74 to permitpassage therebetween of the cocking wings 59. The radially inner edgeportions of the quadrant leaves are arcuate and unsupported to define acircular opening (when the halves 17, 18 are assembled) for the passageof the bumper 70 which is of slightly greater diameter than the opening.

The leaves 72, 73 being of plastic, their inner unsupported edges areslightly flexible so that when struck by the bumper 7 when the mortar 15is fired, they absorb a substantial part of the deceleration energy ofthe plunger. The remaining energy is absorbed by the ends 38 of theslots 37 when struck by the forward edges of the cocking wings 59. Thus,either form of deceleration energy absorber is highly effective inpreventing breakage of the barrel and in ensuring long life of the toy.

It is to be understood that the forms of our invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A toy firearm for firing a projectile comprising, in combination, abarrel open at its outer end for the reception of a projectile andformed of two connected longitudinal, symmetrically oppositecomplementary halves terminating in an arcuate, ground engaging andintegral support closing the other end of said barrel, means connectedto an intermediate portion of the barrel to support and stabilize thefront end thereof, a spring actuated plunger guided by portions of saidbarrel and movable forwardly therein to engage and eject a projectiletherefrom, and a latch formed integrally with said plunger andreleasably engaging a fixed portion of said barrel to hold said plungerin cocked position against the action of said spring.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, and a trigger forming a part ofsaid latch and operable to disengage it from said barrel portion torelease said spring actuated plunger to eject the projectile.

3. The combination recited in claim 1, longitudinally extending slotsformed in the sides of said barrel cocking wings fixed to said plungerand extending laterally through said slot, and finger lugs fixed to thesides of said barrel to be grasped by the fingers of one handsimultaneously with said wings to facilitate cocking of the springactuated plunger of said toy mortar against the action of the spring.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said intermediate supportmeans is pivotally connected to said barrel and includes web-connectedlegs adjustably spaceable from said arcuate support to vary the verticalangle of inclination thereof so as to vary the trajectory of the firedmissile.

5. The combination recited in claim 1, and transversely disposed,arcuate ribs formed intermediate the length of and integrally with saidbarrel halves and cooperatively operable to support a projectile inposition in said barrel to be struck by said plunger when the mortar isfired.

6. The combination recited in claim 1, and means for absorbingacceleration energy of said plunger at the end of its forward movement.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said absorbing meanscomprises resilient cushion members.

8. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said absorbing meanscomprises separate arcuate slightly flexible members defining anaperture fixed to said barrel adjacent to the limit of movement of saidplunger, and a bumper fixed to said plunger for engagement with edgeportions of said flexible members upon movement of said plunger throughsaid aperture.

9. A toy firearm for firing a projectile comprising, in combination, anopen "barrel terminating in a transversely disposed reinforcing bulkheaddefining the other end of the barrel; a slot formed in said bulkhead; atransversely disposed, circular reinforcing rib intermediate the lengthof the barrel to support a projectile in position to be struck andejected from the barrel; a slot formed in each side of said barrel andextending longitudinally from said rib toward said bulkhead; a plungerslida-bly mounted in said bulkhead slot and terminating at its forwardend in a pair of cocking wings projecting laterally through and slidablein said side slots; and a spring mounted on said plunger against saidwings and acting against said bulkhead to move said plunger against aprojectile seated on said rib.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said barrel is formed oftwo connected longitudinal, symmetrically opposite complementary halveseach defining one half of said rib, said bulkhead and said bulkheadslot.

11. The combination recited in claim 9, a second slot in said bulkheadspaced from said first slot, and a resilient latch projecting from saidplunger in alignment with said second bulkhead slot, said latch beingengageable with a side of said second slot upon compression of saidspring to hold said plunger in cocked position.

12. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein a simulated gunsight isformed on said barrel, the inner sides of said sight comprising a guidefor said latch.

13. The combination recited in claim 9, and a resilient cushion mountedadjacent the forward ends of said side slots to absorb decelerationenergy of said plunger at the end of its forward movement.

14. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said cushion comprisesseparate, arcuate, slightly flexible members defining an aperture fixedto said barrel, and 'a bumper fixed to said plunger and engageable withedge portions of the aperture of said flexible members upon movement ofsaid plunger through said aperture.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 739,942 10/ 1903Stewart 27369 920,565 5/ 1909 Greenwood 12421 1,102,948 7/ 1914 Norton12429 1,151,663 8/1915 Carter. 1,430,813 10/1922 Jon'assen 124272,282,764 4/ 1942 Lazzari 124-26 2,500,509 3/1950 Bailey 124--35 X2,569,604 10/ 1951 Hall. 2,600,768 1 /1955 Gladen 124-29 2,725,86812/1955 Foster 12413 2,888,004 5/1959 Steiner 12437 X 2,888,768 6/1959Taylor 124-27 X 20 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

9. A TOY FIREARM FOR FIRING A PROJECTILE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, ANOPEN BARREL TERMINATING IN A TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED REINFORCING BULKHEADDEFINING THE OTHER END OF THE BARREL; A SLOT FORMED IN SAID BULKHEAD; ATRANSVERSELY DISPOSED, CIRCULAR REINFORCING RIB INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTHOF THE BARREL TO SUPPORT A PROJECTILE IN POSITION TO BE STRUCK ANDEJECTED FROM THE BARREL; A SLOT FORMED IN EACH SIDE OF SAID BARREL ANDEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID RIB TOWARD SAID BULKHEAD; A PLUNGERSLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BULKHEAD SLOT AND TERMINATING AT ITS FORWARDEND IN A PAIR OF COOKING WINGS PROJECTING LATERALLY THROUGH AND